Unknown why gunman opened fire on playground

Monday

Oct 11, 2010 at 8:15 AMOct 11, 2010 at 8:17 AM

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CARLSBAD • The suspect in a San Diego-area grade school shooting that left two young girls injured was not cooperating with investigators, police said, and the man's neighbors described strange behavior in the months before the shooting.

Brendan L. O'Rourke, 41, was in custody Saturday for investigation of six counts of attempted murder and numerous weapons violations.

Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain said O'Rourke was refusing to answer questions and police did not know what he intended to do or why he opened fire, but they believe he acted alone.

"He is not cooperating with the investigation," Cain said Friday night. "He probably has some mental health issues."

O'Rourke's neighbors said Saturday that he often screamed obscenities and racial epithets alone in his apartment. Neighbors said they frequently called police.

Ashley Johnson, said she had seen O'Rourke on Friday morning just a few hours before the shooting.

"I was opening my door and he was just leaving," Johnson said. "He closed his door really fast and there was this weird chemical smell. It smelled really weird in his house."

Police said a propane tank was found near O'Rourke's car and a gas canister was found at a playground at the school after the shooting.

At about noon Friday, police said O'Rourke parked his car, jumped a fence and opened fire on the crowded playground, hitting a 6-year-old and 7-year-old in the arms before construction workers tackled him.

The girls were taken by helicopter to Rady Children's Hospital. The injuries were not life-threatening and they are expected to make a full recovery, Cain said.